# LocalSend Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Share files to nearby devices over local network Category: System Utilities · Free · Replaces Instashare ($4.99) · [Official website](https://localsend.org) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask localsend` ## Quick take LocalSend remains the best free AirDrop alternative for mixed-device setups in August 2026. It is simple, private, and actively maintained. Keep it on every Mac that talks to Android or Windows hardware. Best for: Mixed OS households, Classrooms and offices without USB sharing, Privacy-minded local transfers ## What is LocalSend? LocalSend is a free, open-source, cross-platform file sharing app that moves files and messages between nearby devices over your local network without accounts, without the cloud, and without needing internet. It runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS, and it is the usual recommendation when AirDrop cannot reach a Windows PC or Android phone. Transfers use a REST API with HTTPS encryption on the LAN. Devices discover each other on the same network and ask for acceptance unless you trust favourites. As of August 2026, LocalSend 1.17.0 is the latest tagged release (February 2025), described by maintainers as an interim release before WebRTC-based transport work stabilises. The 1.16 line rewrote the sending HTTP client in Rust for speed and added substantial macOS integration (menu-bar drag-and-drop, share-sheet target, sandboxing for DMG installs, Dock status). The project remains actively maintained on GitHub with millions of downloads across stores, and it is still 100% free with no premium tier. On Mac it is an excellent AirDrop complement for mixed-device households, classrooms, and offices. It is not a full replacement for iCloud continuity features. ## Features - **Local network peer-to-peer transfer.** Send files, folders, images, and text to devices on the same Wi-Fi/LAN without cloud relays. Discovery lists nearby peers; optional favourites speed up repeat transfers. - **HTTPS-encrypted sessions.** Sessions use HTTPS on the local network, which makes casual packet sniffing on open Wi-Fi harder. Optional PIN requirements for receive and for share-via-link modes add another gate on untrusted networks. - **Cross-platform clients.** Native apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS mean Mac users can push multi-gigabyte folders to Android cameras or Windows desktops without USB cables or third-party accounts. - **macOS menu bar & share integration.** Recent macOS work includes drag-and-drop to the menu-bar icon, share-menu target support, Dock progress/error states, sandboxed DMG installs, and fixes for minimise-to-tray command-key quirks. - **Share via link & advanced network options.** Generate a local link for devices that cannot run the app, optionally with auto-accept and PIN. Advanced settings filter network interfaces, tune discovery timeouts, and auto-receive only from favourites. - **Open source & free forever.** MIT-licensed development on GitHub, no ads, no tracker SDK, no paid unlock. Package managers (Homebrew, winget, and others) and official stores distribute builds. ## How to Install LocalSend on Mac Install LocalSend on every device that should participate. On Mac: download from localsend.org, the Mac App Store, or `brew install --cask localsend`. Grant Local Network permission when macOS prompts. Without it, nearby devices will not appear. 1. **Install on Mac via Homebrew.** Run `brew install --cask localsend` in your terminal. This installs LocalSend to your Applications folder. 2. **Install on Other Devices.** Download LocalSend on your other devices: Google Play Store for Android, App Store for iOS, Microsoft Store for Windows, or Flathub/Snap for Linux. All versions use the same protocol. 3. **Connect to the Same Network.** Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. If no Wi-Fi is available, one device can create a hotspot and the other can connect to it. 4. **Start Sharing.** Open LocalSend on both devices. They'll discover each other automatically. Select the target device, choose your files, and send. The receiver sees a notification and can accept the transfer. ## Pros - Free and open source with no cloud account - Works across Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android - Fast LAN transfers for large media folders - PIN and favourite controls for semi-public networks - Active maintenance and a transparent GitHub roadmap (WebRTC upcoming) - Simple enough for non-technical family members ## Cons - Devices must share a local network (or carefully routed LAN) - Discovery can fail on client-isolated guest Wi-Fi or VLANs - Not a substitute for encrypted internet-wide sharing (use Syncthing or Tailscale) - 1.17 is still pre-WebRTC; performance depends on the current HTTP path - Background receive on mobile may need battery and permission tweaks ## How LocalSend works as a cross-platform AirDrop stand-in LocalSend's design choices explain why it stuck where browser toys and OS-locked shares failed. The protocol is REST over HTTPS on the LAN, with mDNS/Bonjour discovery and self-signed certificates per device. Flutter keeps one codebase on five platforms; the tradeoff is a UI that is good everywhere rather than perfectly native on any one OS. On Mac, prefer localsend.org, the Mac App Store, or the Homebrew cask, and always grant Local Network permission after install or after a major macOS upgrade. Version 1.16's Rust HTTP client and menu-bar/share-sheet work are why Mac transfers feel less temporary than early releases. Version 1.17.0 stays an interim tag while WebRTC transport lands; expect chunked resume and better large-file behaviour after that lands. When discovery fails on corporate Wi-Fi, typing the peer IP usually beats toggling every firewall checkbox. For Mac-to-Android camera dumps, LocalSend beats cable adapters and messaging apps that recompress media. It still will not replace Tailscale Taildrop or Syncthing when devices are not on the same LAN. Package LocalSend the same way on every machine in a household so discovery names stay recognizable, and revisit Privacy & Security if macOS stops listing peers after a system update. ## FAQ ### Is LocalSend free? Yes. It is free and open source on every supported platform with no paid tier. ### Does LocalSend work offline? Yes. Devices only need a shared local network. No internet uplink is required for transfers. ### What is the latest version? v1.17.0 is the latest GitHub release tag as of the August 2026 research window (published February 2025), with WebRTC work still in progress for a future major transport upgrade. ### Is LocalSend safe? Traffic stays on your LAN with HTTPS between peers. Still, only accept transfers you expect, use PINs on hostile networks, and download builds from official sources (localsend.org, GitHub Releases, or trusted stores). ### Why can’t my Android phone see my Mac? Usually different VLANs, guest Wi-Fi client isolation, or missing Local Network permission on macOS/iOS. Put both devices on the same SSID without isolation, or enter the IP manually in LocalSend settings. ### LocalSend vs AirDrop? Use AirDrop inside Apple's ecosystem. Use LocalSend whenever a Windows or Android device is in the path, or when AirDrop discovery fails on flaky Wi-Fi. ### Can I send to someone not on my Wi-Fi? Not with classic LocalSend LAN mode. Use Tailscale, Syncthing over a relay, or a cloud share link service for internet transfers. ## Sources - [LocalSend official site](https://localsend.org/) - [LocalSend downloads](https://localsend.org/download) - [LocalSend GitHub Releases](https://github.com/localsend/localsend/releases) - [localsend/localsend repository](https://github.com/localsend/localsend) - [LocalSend on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.localsend.localsend_app) - [LocalSend Softonic listing](https://localsend.en.softonic.com/) ## Related - [Maccy](https://bundl.run/apps/maccy) - [Stats](https://bundl.run/apps/stats) - [SuperWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/superwhisper) - [MacWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/macwhisper) - [HyperWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/hyperwhisper) - [Aqua Voice](https://bundl.run/apps/aqua-voice) - [Free alternative to Instashare](https://bundl.run/https:/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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